Well, the Church does not dispute things I sometimes dispute. The Church offers nothing more or less than what the Protestants offer here on the FR (scriptures). In fact, the Church usually offers less, because the Church does not polemicize issues; it simply treats them as divine mystery, a paradox in our eyes, and offers unequivocal submission God's revelation whether we understand it or not.
The Church offers scriptural reasons for theological issues, but it also reminds us that not everything was written down, but has been known and practiced by the Church from the beginning.
The Church also implements discipline such as fasting. Eastern Orthodox faithful fast about 180 days a year in total; there are three 40-day fasts, and some minor ones, and every Wednesday and Friday.
The fast consists of abstaining from all animal products, olive oil and "passion" foods and drinks. I am not sure why the Church implemented this discipline, and I can't find a reasonable explanation for it, but I do knowthat fasting rules have changed over the centuries.
I consider these practices very unhealthy for some people (diabetics, for instance), but although the Church will not insist on anyone adhering to disciplines if it means harming their health, most faithful will continue to fast even if it is not in the best interest of their health, treating discipline almost like Gospel.
I do believe that the Church is right and that everything the Church does is for the glory of God and in the purest interest of helping the faithful stay the course. I would say it is also biblical, but then your Bible does not consist of the same books and it is a moot point. Our source of authority is in disagreement, and cannot be equated.
I assume error on my part because of the 2,000-year spiritual life of the Church, the various spiritual giants who contributed to that life, the unbroken chain from the Apostles until present days and an unchanged faith. Just because I don't understand it, or see it, doesn't mean it is as I see it and understand it.
Unfortunately, the Church and well-meaning Christians who offer their opinions, fail to convince me that their version of the truth is indeed the truth. So, I submit to the authority of the Church as a manifestation of my awareness that the Church is more experienced, educated and knowledgeable than I am, the way we submit to a physician, trustingly but not blindly.
Yes, because reality is God’s revelation to us (not our experiences).
most faithful will continue to fast even if it is not in the best interest of their health, treating discipline almost like Gospel.
Unfortunately, Christians forget the purpose for the discipline and make the discipline the purpose. This reminds me of my mother’s prayer of thanks before dinner. She practiced the discipline (praying) but her prayers were practically unintelligible because she rattled it off so fast from memory and it was just taken for granted that saying those words was supposed to be done. Do you know what I mean?
Just because I don't understand it, or see it, doesn't mean it is as I see it and understand it.
None of us has perfect understanding and all of us harbor error.
the Church and well-meaning Christians who offer their opinions, fail to convince me that their version of the truth is indeed the truth.
None of us has the whole truth, we all struggle.